Spring-cushion.



PATENTED MAR. 1'7, 1908.

E. G. WASHBURN.

SPRING CUSHION.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10.1907.

7],; 4 am, am w) 10 .m/ aw z a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN c. WASHBURN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SPRING-CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed August 10, 1907. Serial No. 388,026.

Cushions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to spring cushioning devices and is particularlydirected to an improved frictional spring dampener or device forreducing the vibrations of the springs.

-To the above ends, the invention consists of the novel devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, with some parts'broken away, showing my invention incorporated in a spring cushiondevice having four coiled springsarranged in pairs. Fig. 2 is a viewpartly. in side elevation and partly in vertical section, on the line xas of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 00 m ofFig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the improved spring cushion,with one pair of springs removed.

The construction illustrated described in detail is as follows: .Thenumerals 1 and 2 indicate, respectively, upper and lower spring bearingplates that are adapted for direct or a indirect engagement with memberswhose movements are to be cushioned. The lower bearing plate 2 isprovided with spring engaging bosses 3, in rectangular disposition, thattelescope slightly into the lower ends of correspondingly positionedcoiled cushioning springs 4. At its intermediate ortion, the lowerbearing plate 2 is provider with a rigidly secured upright frictionplate 5, the opposite faces of which are channeled and are formed withmarginal guide ribs 6.

The upper ends of the springs 4 that are on the same side of thefriction plate 5 directly engage with the foot flanges of angle plates7, which, as shown, are provided with bosses 8 that telescope slightlyinto the upper ends of said s rings. M In vertical cross section theseso-cal ed angle plates 7 are approximately I rectangular and thedepending arm portions thereof are intermediately located so that theycome partly into the space formed be tween two cooperating springs. Attheir outer edges, the bases of the said angle plates are fulcrumedagainst the overlying bearing )late 1 and, as shown, they are formedwith fulcrum ribs 9 that engage the said plate 1.

To prevent outward slipping movements of the said angle plates, thebearing plate 1 is provided at its ends with stop flanges 1.

Friction plates or shoes 10 engage the 0 posite faces of the frictionplate and are he d against lateral dis lacement by the ribs 6 thereof.These friction plates or shoes 10 are pivotally connected to thedepending arms of the angle plates 7, its )ivotal connection, as shown,being accomplished by semicylindrical bearing lugs 11 on said plates 10that engage correspondingly formed seats in the arms of the said angleplates 7.

By reference particularly to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the angleplates 7 engage with the bearing plate 1 only at their outer edges and,hence, are free for oscillatory movements on their fulcrum lugs 9. Underforce tending to move the bearing plates land 2 toward each other, thetension of the springs ,4 exerted on the intermediate portions of thebases of the angle plates 7 presses the friction plates or shoes 10against the friction plate 5 with a force that is approximately proortional to the impact of t e force to be cushioned by the springs. Whenthe springs are compressed, the friction plates 10, of course, mustslide frictionally over the friction plate 5, and this same slippageunder friction must take place under recoil of the springs. Thisfriction device, herein called a spring dampener, therefore relieves thesprings from intense strains due to sudden impacts and thereby greatlyincreases the cushioning power of the springs. The device also preventssudden recoil of the springs which in some uses is even moreimportant'than increased cushioning action produced under compression ofthe springs.

A cushioning device of the kind above described is adapted for a greatmany different uses. It will be found serviceable for use in connectionwith car trucks and automobiles, but its utility is not limited to anyparticular ap lication. Different applications of the evice will, ofcourse, call for modified arrangements thereof, both as to size, and Itof course, evident device shown In the dis L.-

loe in my position and tha the device were turned upside down theso-cslled ripper plate would their 1 oecome or lower looming plate, thej angle plates 7 would then he locsted st bottom of springs I claim is:

l. The combination with a pair of hearing plates and s fiietiori plstesecured to one thereof, of s pair of reversely disposed angle platesfulcramierl against the other hearing plate, a ofiopposing fi'ietionshoes held egmstopposite feces of said fi'iction plate, by said angleplates, and coiled springs compressed between the losses of said angleplates me the hearing plate to which said fi'ictiori plate is secured,substantially as described.

2. The combTmat-ion with a pair of bearing platessnd 3 Motion platesecured to one thereof, oi a pair of reversely acting angle platesfulcrumed at the outer edges of their bases to the other bearing plateand having arms intermedietely extended from their inner edges, frictionshoes pivotally connected to the arms of said angle plates and heldthereby-against the opposite faces of said fi'iction plate, and coiledsprings arranged in pairs and compressed between the bases of thecooperating angle plates and the esega rs hearing plate to which thesaid friction plate 1 is secured, substantially sis-described.

The combination with hearing plates .1

2 and a friction plate 5 secured to and rojecting from the letter, ofangle pistes 7 aving fulcrumeel lugs 9 at their outer edges 1 engagingsaid plates I adjacent to its stop flanges 1*, said angle plates alsohaving 1 bosses 8, coiled springs 4 compressed between said plate 2 andthe bases of said angle plates 7 and telescoping with said I bosses 3and 8 and friction shoes 10 engag- 1 the opposite faces of said frictionplate 5 and having rounded; hearing lugs 11 seated in the of said angleplates 7, substantislly as described.

4. The combination with a;- pair of bearing plates and afriction plate,secured to one thereof, of an angle plate firlcrumed against thcotherbearing plate, a. friction shoe held against said friction plate, bysaid angle plate, and a. coiled spring compressed between the base ofsaid angle plate and the hearing plate to which said friction plate issecured, substantially as described.

in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN C. WASHBURN.

Witnesses:

MALIE HOEL, E. D. KILGORE.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature

